Sentinel and Bactec blood culture systems.

Abstract

It may be the opinion of Jack et al that sections of formalin fixed decalcified bone marrow are morphologically unsatisfactory and technically more demanding to prepare, but others have contested this.4 We may add that as recipients of numerous consultation cases the standard of MMA embedding of bone marrow trephines is equally poor in many centres. It is difficult to understand the final paragraph in the letter of Jack et al. Why, if immunocytochemistry is so easily applied to MMA sections, do they find it necessary to combine this technique with flow cytometric immunophenotyping? We doubt that many routine laboratories have access to such sophisticated technology, desirable though it may be. The aim of our article was to draw attention to the value of the bone marrow biopsy specimen in lymphoproliferative disorders and to provide a balanced view of the different approaches. We trust that we have achieved this.